An overtime defeat to Skaneateles on Sept. 20 did not do much damage to the Cazenovia boys soccer team’s standing, for it still shared the no. 20 spot in the latest state Class B rankings and managed to sweep three home games in a six-day span leading into the decisive month of October.
This busy week for Cazenovia commenced with last Monday night’s game against Solvay, one where a lot of patience was required before the Lakers broke through and put away the Bearcats 3-0.
They were 0-0 deep into the second half, Solvay relying on its defense to constantly break up Cazenovia’s runs. In fact, Bearcats goalie Joe Guadagnolo only had four saves on the ledger as both sides were affected by high winds that made it difficult to control the ball through the air.
Guadganolo was put to the test, though, when a Solvay foul inside the 18-yard box led to a penalty kick with 13 minutes left. Burke Regan put the shot past Guadagnolo and, two minutes later, Geoff Christensen made it 2-0. Sean McNerney tacked on another goal with four minutes to play as John Williams got credit for an assist.
Still at home Wednesday night, Cazenovia met Phoenix, and it beat the Firebirds by that same 3-0 margin, only this time the Lakers didn’t wait until the second half to get on the board – in fact, it didn’t even wait 15 seconds.
It took a mere 11 seconds for Cazenovia to net one of the quickest goals in program history, Hunter Sattler finding the net. Then Ryan Modzeleski converted later in the half for a 2-0 margin at the break before Vincent Paglia got the final goal. Sattler and Modzeleski were both credited with assists.
A big test awaited the Lakers late on Saturday afternoon when Clinton, boasting a 7-2-1 record of its own, visited the Sean Googin Sports Complex. On the day that the Lakers’ seniors were honored, it offered home fans a dramatic conclusion that resulted in a 2-1 double-overtime victory over the Warriors.
The two sides traded goals in the first half, Burke Regan finding the net for the Lakers as Fritz Gale converted for Clinton, assisted by Matt Orlando. Then it stayed 1-1 through the rest of regulation plus one 10-minute overtime period, with Cazenovia getting most of the chances, but constantly thwarted by Warriors goalie Jared Decosty, who had 10 saves.
Finally, in the second OT, Sattler broke free and flicked a shot past Decosty for the game-winner. McNerney and Jack Aronson got credit for assists on the two Cazenovia goals. Four of the remaining five regular-season games for the 8-2-1 Lakers are on the road, including this week’s trips to CBA on Monday and Jordan-Elbridge on Wednesday.
Chittenango, who had finally broken a six-game skid when it edged Phoenix 1-0 on Sept. 24, could not replicate that magic in last Monday night’s home game against Westhill, who proceeded to blank the Bears 2-0.
Just like what Solvay did with Cazenovia, the Bears kept the Warriors off the board in the first half and saw things get away late. Bo BenYehuda and Bernat Carbonell netted goals for Westhill, negating Justin Makowski’s eight saves as Chittenango was held to just three shots all night.
At Jordan-Elbridge Thursday night, the Bears earned a shutout of its own, blanking the Eagles 3-0. A pair of first-half goals allowed Chittenango to seize control as Keoni Saturnio led the way, scoring once and adding an assist. Zach Jasmin and Seth Spurgeon had the other goals, with Nick Stanton contributing an assist.
Now at 2-7, the Bears hosted on Saturday a Mexico team that, though 4-6, had just stunned unbeaten, state Class A no. 9-ranked East Syracuse Minoa in double overtime in its previous game.
Perhaps still on a high from that upset, Mexico crashed at Chittenango, falling 3-0 to a Bears side that played one of its best all-around games of the season, holding the Tigers to just three shots on the defensive end.
Meanwhile, the Bears jumped in front 2-0 by halftime and never got caught, seeing Saturnio, Spurgeon and Andrew Larsson each earn a goal and Stanton again finish with an assist. It was the precursor to games this week for Chittenango against Phoenix, Auburn and Marcellus.
